40th Birthday Extravaganza-Pretrip report About This Page:

[krisk11]

Travelers
Me (Kris) turning 40 on 4/8/07 Easter Sunday
DD's Dad (Courtney) 44
DD (Kelsey) 11

This trip planning started a long long time ago. In October 2004 the three of us (listed above) were sitting outside of the Boardwalk Bakery with our friends who had moved down to Florida that year. It was very peaceful, we were listening to the World Series playing out of the ESPN Club and chatting. I was staring across the water at the Beach Club resort and that is when I decided that some day I had to stay at the Beach Club. The next summer (July 2005) dd & I went back down to Florida to stay with our friends and decided to tack 3 days on the end of our trip and stay at POFQ because I got a great deal on the resort thru my TA. We purchased 8 day park hoppers to take down with us and ended up only using 3 days of them because we did so many other things while down in Florida with our friends. So I paid to put the non expiration on the remain 5 day tickets dd & I had left knowing that would be a great excuse to come back to WDW. Then it hit me!!!! I was looking at a calendar at the end of 2005 and realized that my 40th birthday was on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007. I consulted the current school calendar to see which days the school typically gives off for the Easter/Spring holiday and realized they usually have 5 or 6 days in a row off for the holiday. DD would be in Middle School by then so she wasn't going to want to miss any school because it would be too hard to make up the work and we both had 5 day park hopper passes burning a hole in my metal box that I was keeping them safe in. It sounded like a perfect plan. Now where to stay????????? The choice was obvious. Beach Club!!!!!!!!! It was bad enough I was getting so old and would be turning the big FOUR O I might as well do it at a deluxe resort at my favorite place on earth. Now to just save enough money to be able to afford it . That was the hard part. I made an automatic deposit every week into my ING account and counted on the last big tax refund that would come in February 2007. I plotted it out and realized that it could be done. I was going to go down and celebrate like I was actually rich enough to stay at a deluxe resort. People down in WDW don't know me so they won't know any different . I booked the resort before the prices were even released and had my TA apply my AAA discount as soon as they came out. The discount took the room from $429/night to $389/night so at least it was a little better.
At 180 days out I called for my ADR's. We were very disappointed because Teppyanaki would be closed for rehab while we were down there but made other plans. Jiko was at the top of my list along with doing the afternoon tea at the GF. Kona Cafe for breakfast is a must do every trip now. We usually book one character breakfast every trip so we decided to Cape May Cafe since we were staying at the BC, plus Goofy is dd's favorite character. Now to pick my birthday dinner for Easter Sunday. Courtney wanted some Asian food and since Teppyanki was closed I booked Nine Dragons. Not what I wanted but since he was coming with us I figured it couldn't be all about me (well it could but that would be mean).
Fast forward to late winter 2007. I get word that the rehab for Teppyanki has been pushed back for the 2nd or 3rd time and now it doesn't start until 4/15. That is fabulous news and I get right on the phone with Disney Dining and get a ressie for 4/8 at 6:30. Then I hear horrible news that the tour I have always wanted to do is being stopped after April. I have been waiting to do the Hidden Treasures of World Showcase tour until dd was 16 or at least a little older and could pass for 16 since there was an age requirement. Now it's ending and dd is only 11 (although she already looks like she is around 14 or 15 but I hate to lie). But the passport lists the days of the tour not being days I will be down there. Again I'm disappointed until my faithful passporter buddies post that the days they are offereing the tour have changed. I get on the phone with disney again and book the tour for Friday 4/6. DD & her dad will hang out at Stormalong Bay while I do the tour by myself. Not a bad plan since our hotel has the best pool on property. All my plans are coming together. This morning I woke up and jumped out of bed when the alarm went off so I could print our boarding passes so we would have an A and be able to board early. Tonight I will pack the last remaining items and we are on our way. We are so excited. Even dd's dad called this me at my office this morning and said "Let's go Florida trip because this weather sucks". It's raining and today's high is 40. I looked at weather.com and our 5 day outlook is sunny and 80. Disney here I come. When I finish my report I'll be an old lady. Oh well at least I'll have another disney trip under my belt.